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Biomedical subjects

S Viola

Publications and source records attributed to S Viola.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Recurrent juvenile dermatomyositis and cutaneous necrotizing arteritis with molecular mimicry between streptococcal type 5 M protein and human skeletal myosin.

An adult patient had a syndrome associating the features of juvenile dermatomyositis and cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa that followed a cyclic course from childhood; recurrences were always associated with a rise of serum antistreptococcal antibodies. Regions of homology between streptococcal type 5 M protein and skeletal myosin were found. These findings suggest that streptococcal infection, possibly through a molecular mimicry mechanism, played a role in the pathogenesis of the disease in our patient.

Acute Disease

Three-dimensional transcranial Doppler in acute ischemic stroke in the territory of the middle cerebral artery: clinical and CT correlation.

We studied 34 patients with acute ischemic stroke in the territory of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) by three-dimensional transcranial Doppler (TCD-3D). The parameters analyzed were: mean blood flow velocity, systolic and diastolic velocities; indices of pulsatility, hemisphere asymmetry and pulsatility transmission. Of the 34 patients 11 presented marked slowing of flow velocity in the MCA on the infarct side with an asymmetry index (AI) of over 40%, 8 patients with slightly reduced flow velocity in the MCA and an AI of 25-40%, 2 patients in whom there was indirect evidence of collateral circulations in the anterior cerebral artery distribution together with slowing of MCA flow; 5 patients had stenosis of the MCA, 9 patients showed no alterations of the Doppler parameters. The correlation between neurological symptom pattern and AI was significant (r = 0.76). Noninvasive, easy to perform, performable at once and reliable, TCD-3D is a great improvement on traditional transcranial Doppler and is especially useful in assessing the hemodynamics of the cerebral circulation in ischemic stroke.

Acute Disease

[Symptoms of spinal osteochondrosis].

Having screened 384 patients suffering from Scheuermann's disease and 2992 eleven-year-old children, the authors conclude that the early and salient symptoms of the disease are mobile thoracic kyphosis associated with the flexious contracture of the hip joint, and occasional anteflexious contracture of the shoulder joint together with a left-curved functional scoliosis. The authors analyse the nature and frequency of scoliosis, excluding other causes of the flexion contracture of the hip joint. Their findings are supported by data processed on computer.

Child

Antibody reactivity against single stranded DNA of various species in normal children and in children with diffuse connective tissue diseases.

The aim of this work was to study possible differences in the humoral response against autologous and heterologous (bacterial and mammalian) ssDNA in children with diffuse connective tissue diseases (DCTD) compared with age matched controls. We found that IgM anti ssDNA were significantly increased in systemic lupus eritematosus (SLE) and in juvenile arthritis (JA), but not in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). IgG anti ssDNA were significantly elevated only in children with SLE. We next evaluated the binding specificity to human and bacterial ssDNA by inhibition assays. We found that SLE and JA sera recognised epitopes shared in common to endogenous and bacterial ssDNA. In contrast, in normal subjects IgG binding to bacterial DNA was not inhibited by human DNA, while IgG anti human ssDNA were cross reactive with the bacterial antigen. These data suggest that natural antibodies (IgM) producing cells are activated in some but not all DCTD, and that normal children have different reactivity against autologous and heterologous ssDNA with respect to SLE and JA patients.

Adolescent

CD5 positive B lymphocytes in seronegative juvenile arthritis.

We investigated the levels of circulating CD5+ B cells in 43 patients with seronegative, HLA-B27 negative juvenile arthritis, 7 patients with juvenile dermatomyositis (DM) and 16 children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We found that CD5+ B cell levels were high in juvenile arthritis (p less than 0.01), normal in juvenile DM and decreased in SLE (p less than 0.01) compared to 33 age matched controls. In juvenile arthritis, the increase of CD5+ B cells appeared to be independent of discuss activity and was present in all the onset types except in a subset of patient with late onset pauciarthritis.

Adolescent

[Conservative treatment of camptodactyly].

Authors describe their method used in the treatment of camptodactyly. After a 6-year follow-up they report on good functional and esthetic result. In 1 case, even with a late therapy in 5 years of age, considerable improvement could the reached.

Female

[A new computerized file of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis].

A computerized database for patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is presented. The program has been developed using PRIST (Patient Record Information System Tool), a flexible tool specifically oriented to clinical data management. The database consists of three main sections: the fixed record devoted to anamnestic data, the periodic record collecting the clinical, laboratory and instrumental data and the balance record devoted to a periodic balance of the disease course. The major advantages of our database are: time saving data handling, elastic procedures and easy retrospective data collection.

Arthritis, Juvenile

Clinical evaluation of sulbactam plus ampicillin in the treatment of general pediatric infections.

Sixty pediatric patients (27 males and 33 females) between the ages of 7 months and 11.7 years (mean age = 4.3 yr) were treated with parenteral sulbactam plus ampicillin (1:2 ratio) for lower respiratory tract infections (29 cases), upper respiratory tract infections (4 cases), urinary tract infections (25 cases) or skin/soft tissue infections (2 cases). The infection was mild in 6 cases, moderate in 44 and severe in 10. The infection was acute in 57 patients, recurrent in 1 (cystitis) and was a flare-up of a chronic infection in 2 (pyelonephritis and cystitis). The children received an average dose of 48 mg/kg/d of sulbactam plus 96 mg/kg/d of ampicillin by the i.m. route (43 cases) or by i.v. drip (17 cases) in 3-4 divided doses. The length of treatment ranged between 3 and 10 d (mean duration = 6 d). At the end of therapy, clinical cure was achieved in 53 patients (88.3%), while 6 (10%) had a marked improvement. Only 1 patient, with a lower respiratory tract infection, did not respond to therapy. All 25 patients with urinary tract infection experienced bacteriological cure at the end of treatment. No side effects were reported. Mild and transient changes in laboratory parameters from baseline values were observed in 10 patients (eosinophilia, elevation of SGOT or SGPT) without clinical consequence. Sulbactam plus ampicillin was effective and safe in the treatment of bacterial infections in children and appears to be useful in the treatment of those infections in which beta-lactamase-producing organisms are involved.

Ampicillin

[Ischemic necrosis of femoral condyles in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Avascular necrosis (AN) of bone is a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the present paper we describe two patients with SLE who presented an AN of femoral condyles 18 months and 2 years respectively after the diagnosis of the disease. In the second case, together with the destructive change of the symptomatic knee, X-ray films showed an initial involvement, still asymptomatic, of the contralateral knee.

Adolescent

Hypergammaglobulinemic purpura in childhood. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

Hypergammaglobulinemic purpura is a rare syndrome characterized by long-standing recurrent purpura of the lower limbs, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high titer rheumatoid factor positivity. The syndrome can occur isolated or in association with a systemic disease. Few cases have been described in childhood. We report two cases together with a review of the paediatric literature.

Child

Systemic lupus erythematosus with Jaccoud's arthropathy mimicking juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

We describe a girl who presented at age 5 with objective signs of arthritis and was initially diagnosed as having juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Over the following years, she developed slowly progressive joint deformities indicative of Jaccoud's arthropathy. When she was 11 years old, symptoms typical of systemic lupus erythematosus appeared, accompanied by anti-DNA antibodies. This case illustrates that in children also, Jaccoud's arthropathy may be a precocious manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Adolescent

Calcinosis as the presenting sign of juvenile dermatomyositis in a 14-month-old boy.

We describe a 14-month-old child with dermatomyositis in whom calcinosis was the first sign of the disease. This case shows that calcinosis, usually a late complication of dermatomyositis, may be the presenting sign of the disease even in young children and when Gottron's sign is still absent and muscular weakness not prominent.

Calcinosis

Anuria due to bilateral cystine urolithiasis in an infant.

A 10-month-old female presented with anuria due to bilateral cystine urolithiasis. Although bilateral obstruction of the ureters by calculi is very rare in children, it may be the presenting feature of cystinuria even in the first year of life.

Acute Kidney Injury

[Gardner's syndrome in familial popyposis: clinical contribution and etiopathogenetic, therapeutic and prognostic considerations].

Starting from one case of Gardner's syndrome of their own observation, and in light of Watne's results, the authors argue that in the syndrome just named--and in familial polyposis in a broader sense--genetic factors do not play a predominant role; rather, polyps seem to result from the prolonged action of noxious agents. At any rate, said action can be neutralized, and possibly prevented either with a surgical modification of the distal gut or by treatment with a chemical substance identified as ascorbic acid. In view of these considerations, the authors recommend preventive medical therapy.

Female

[Brain death].

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Adolescent

[Immediate surgical treatment of penetrating wounds of the heart. Clinico-diagnostic and therapeutic considerations on 2 cases of suture of the myocardium].

The authors, on the basis of their experience on two cases of cardiac tamponade, and from the revision of literature, retain that immediate thoracotomy, followed by re-examination of the pericardial sac and myocardiorrhaphy, represents a treatment preferable to the evacuant pericardiocentesis, confining the latter only to diagnostic conditions and immediate decompression in cases which arrive in unequipped places.

Adult